Sec 15-1464. State aid per capita distribution for science, technology, engineering and mathematics and workforce programs; fund; appropriation; report; exception

A. In addition to the appropriation prescribed in section 15-1463, subsection A, this state shall pay to each community college district state aid for science, technology, engineering and mathematics and workforce programs in the following manner:

1. For fiscal year 1992-1993 for a community college district that had less than five thousand actual full-time equivalent students according to the most recent fiscal year actual full-time equivalent student count, the amount determined by multiplying the number of actual full-time equivalent students according to the most recent fiscal year actual full-time equivalent student count by two hundred seven dollars.

2. For fiscal year 1992-1993 for a community college district that had five thousand or more actual full-time equivalent students according to the most recent fiscal year actual full-time equivalent student count, the amount determined by multiplying the number of actual full-time equivalent students according to the most recent fiscal year actual full-time equivalent student count by one hundred fifty-eight dollars.

3. Beginning with fiscal year 1993-1994, the legislature shall adjust by the growth rate for common and high school districts as provided by law, subject to appropriation, the amount of state aid to community college districts as provided in paragraphs 1 and 2 of this subsection.

B. The basis for computing full-time equivalent students for the science, technology, engineering and mathematics and workforce programs per capita distribution shall be on the same basis as the computation prescribed in section 15-1466.01.

C. In addition to the formula to determine the appropriations prescribed in section 15-1463, subsection A and subsection A of this section, this state may pay additional amounts for science, technology, engineering and mathematics and workforce programs to a community college district based on requests from the district.

D. Appropriations for science, technology, engineering and mathematics and workforce programs made pursuant to subsections A and C of this section and section 15-1463 shall be made to an account designated as the science, technology, engineering and mathematics and workforce programs fund. Monies in the fund shall be used for science, technology, engineering and mathematics and workforce programs purposes, and the expenditures may include:

1. Partnerships with businesses and educational institutions.

2. Additional faculty for improved and expanded classroom instruction and course offerings.

3. Technology, equipment and technology infrastructure for advanced teaching and learning in classrooms or laboratories.

4. Student services such as assessment, advisement and counseling for new and expanded job opportunities.

5. The purchase, lease or lease-purchase of real property, for new construction, remodeling or repair of buildings or facilities on real property.

E. At the beginning of each fiscal year, the district board shall present to the department of administration a claim for the annual amount appropriated by the legislature and assigned to the district for science, technology, engineering and mathematics and workforce programs purposes. The department of administration shall draw a warrant in payment of the claim and shall transmit the warrant to the state treasurer who shall disburse the funds to the district for science, technology, engineering and mathematics and workforce programs purposes, to be expended as provided by law. If no community college exists, the department shall establish a fund for new future community college districts to be disbursed as needed.

F. Notwithstanding subsection E of this section, a community college district may request the state treasurer to disburse the monies to the local government investment pool for deposit into the district's account as established in section 35-326.

G. Each district has the option of using up to twenty percent of its total science, technology, engineering and mathematics and workforce programs aid appropriation for operating aid purposes or taking this same amount out of the district's total operating state aid appropriation and using it for science, technology, engineering and mathematics and workforce programs purposes.

H. On or before December 1 of every even-numbered year, each community college district shall submit a report of its science, technology, engineering and mathematics and workforce programs plan activities and the expenditures authorized in this section to the governor, president of the senate, speaker of the house of representatives, joint legislative budget committee and Arizona commerce authority. The report shall include the purpose and goals for which the science, technology, engineering and mathematics and workforce programs monies were expended by each district with a general accounting of the expenditures. Each community college district shall transmit a copy of this report to the secretary of state.

I. A community college district that is located in a county with a population of seven hundred fifty thousand persons or more is not eligible to receive state aid for science, technology, engineering and mathematics and workforce programs as prescribed in subsection A of this section.